One of the yearly retrospective features from the December 2015 issue of Kageki, featuring Flower Troupe Top Star Asumi Rio.
Looking Back on 2015: Asumi Rio
January’s production of Ernest in Love was difficult since it was a comedy, but the whole theatre had a really warm atmosphere and I’m glad we had it as our introductory performance with a new Top Combi.
Embraced by the Seas of Calista was my first original production since I became Top, so I had some concerns, but I took on the challenge with the hope of seizing hold of the audience’s feminine emotions through Ms. Ooishi’s script1. Takarazuka Fantasia was rather hard to perform, but it had the message that the reconstructed Flower Troupe would spread its wings. During the middle of the show when I saw everyone’s smiles as they watched, I was really moved. When we received the annual Group Award for this production2, my emotions were split between tears and happiness.
Since I was performing as Fersen for the second time in the Taiwan production of Rose of Versailles: Fersen and Marie-Antoinette, I figured out some new things and tried to get deeper into the character. During the performance of Takarazuka Fantasia I felt united with the Taiwanese audience members, which made me really happy. I was able to get over my uneasiness about performing in a foreign country since I had all my friends with me, and our bonds deepened as if we were all meant to be together.
The Takarazuka Traditional Japanese Dance Recital was really difficult since I was performing Japanese dance by myself for a long time, but I feel like it was a valuable experience.
Since we had been split into the Taiwan group and the Bow Hall group doing various great things, when we all reunited after a long time for New Tale of Genji the rehearsals were really lively. I was really worried about playing Genji, to the point where I said it was the hardest role I’ve had so far, but I want to work on the performance scene by scene and hopefully by the time the last day comes around I will have a deep understanding of the character. Melodia: A Warm and Lovely Melody has various scenes where everyone gets to shine, even the junior members, and it will be very energetic. Every day we’re working on how to present each scene.
While performing, I make new discoveries about how I consider the stage and how I ought to conduct myself, as well as deepening my connections with the other members of the troupe. I’m really happy that I have such trustworthy friends, and I hope to be someone who can lead them well.
1 – This production was one of two (as of time of posting) written for Takarazuka by Ooishi Shizuka, a non-Hankyu-employed screenwriter who mainly writes for television.
2 – In the Takarazuka Annual Awards, Flower Troupe received the Group Award for scene 10 of Takarazuka Fantasia, “Sakura Fantasia”.